Categories: Birthday Party Invites

Hot summers are the best excuse to take a trip to the pool and beach. As a new mom, I was extremely excited to take my 9-month-old for her first poolside dip. But, as I’m sure some moms would agree, I was worried about how she would fare in the water, so I perused tons of online mommy forums to find the best baby float to keep her happily splashing yet safe. I found this Swimways baby float to not only be accommodating with its shade canopy and safe with its breathable mesh, but also bold and cheery like summer colors should be. And why should babies have all the fun?! I’ve compiled a list of poolside and beachfront picks for the rest of the family while your little ones are splashing away in the pool. Dive in!

Happy Monday, Inspirees! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! As for me, well, I spent most of my weekend playing Draw Something – that popular new-age pictionary app that’s been making its rounds. I have to admit that it was the best thing for me to do this weekend to kill time in between waiting for the Hunger Games movie to start, my blueberry cobbler to bake, and my 5-month-old to wake up from her afternoon nap. We even got our CEO to join in on the Draw Something fun!

A few days ago my daughter got an invitation for her party in the mail, but I didn’t send it. Paper Culture did.

As you may know, I recently started writing the “Inspired” blog for Paper Culture. Before I started my job, I did some research — I looked at the site. I checked out the assortment of cards and designs that were available. But I hadn’t really experienced Paper Culture until now. My daughter is turning four next week and I am making, as my Aunt Aleen from NJ would say, a party for her. This year I am doing the tried and true “age of the child plus one extra guest.” I have gone to too many 4-year-old birthday parties recently, where the birthday child has been in meltdown mode for the last half hour of the party. Also my daughter just started a new school, so I wasn’t really sure, who to invite. Here is my experience:[read more]

Along those lines, we welcome your feedback and ideas. Find your “inner-designer” and tell us how Paper Culture has inspired you in 200 words or less. Maybe a bridal shower invitation determined the theme of your party or a holiday photo card motivated you to make your own wrapping paper. You tell us! If we select your story, we’ll give you a $50 gift certificate for your next Paper Culture order. How’s that for inspiration? Simply share your story by commenting on this blog or send an email to [email protected]

Um, no — or at least, not that I’m aware of.

The joke around here is that our inspiration is erratic. As easy as it would be to look to one person, place or thing for incitement, that is simply not the case. Being paper lovers, we are mindful of the trends around us, but between you and me, we probably spend the least amount of time looking at other invitations, announcements and stationery. Besides, that would be imitating, and how uninspired is that?

It’s much more fun to look at fashion, architecture or environmental advances as sources of ideas. We also find enormous inspiration in organizations that provide leadership in areas that touch our communities, including those that promote education, the health of our families and environmental innovation.

But really, we find our most important inspiration in talking to you.

Like most blogs, we will share fun company tidbits, special discounts, design previews and maybe even some of the more interesting corporate stuff. But our real goal is to have this be a forum for us to exchange ideas, to share thoughts and ultimately, for us to find the source of our next inspiration.